How Yoga Nidra Can Help You Heal from Grief
Discover the Healing Power of Yoga Nidra: A Gentle Practice to Navigate Grief and Promote Emotional Well-being - By Beth RushÂ
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Explore how Yoga Nidra for grief can help offer a space for emotional processing and healing.
Grief can be overwhelming and isolating. While time often heals, some ways can help you navigate this challenging period. One such practice is yoga nidra, a deep relaxation technique that can help ease tension, stress and negative emotions. Learn how to practice yoga nidra for grief and how it can benefit you.
What is Yoga Nidra?
Yoga nidra is a relaxing, no-pose practice that helps relieve discomfort and stressors, including grief. Unlike modern yoga practices, this routine involves a few poses that move you into a deep state of relaxation. It promotes calmness in your sympathetic nervous system or fight-or-flight response, promoting better digestion, immunity and stress management.Â
You can practice it in yoga studios or at home while watching instructional videos. Yoga nidra requires a few things, including a yoga mat and pillows to support your back, spine and head.
How Does Yoga Nidra Help Release Grief?
Grieving takes time, which can range from several months to years. However, yoga nidra can help speed up the healing process in many ways.
It Brings Peace
Many people think grief is only an emotional experience. However, it’s a powerful emotion that can affect you physically. Your immune system lowers its defense, making you more vulnerable to infections. Yoga nidra is an ultimate relaxation technique and a guided meditation that helps you release tension. During this time, you focus on one thing and eliminate the negative thoughts that may be causing you stress.
It’s FreeingÂ
Yoga nidra makes you more conscious about your thoughts, allowing you to embrace grief without drowning in it. Doing mindful rituals can help you recognize the five stages of grief — denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance — and start your journey toward healing.
It Promotes Better Sleep
Grief can be so intense it might interfere with your sleeping patterns. People who are bereaved are at risk of middle insomnia, which happens when you find it challenging to go back to sleep after waking up in the middle of the night. Yoga nidra can help manage grief by promoting deep inward awareness and relaxation, allowing the body to heal and leave you well-rested.
Are There Any Risks To Doing Yoga Nidra?
Yoga nidra is a safe practice. However, if you are pregnant or diagnosed with any mental health issue, it’s best to practice with a skilled instructor, as you may need additional guidance to navigate feelings that may appear during the meditation.
Yoga Nidra for Grief: How to Do It
Lay on the mat and start your healing journey with these basic yoga nidra poses.
- Focus on a goal: Visualize reaching a goal related to your journey. Imagine the joy you’ll feel once you attain it.
- Scan your body: Focus on body parts where you feel tension. Keep them relaxed.
- Notice your breathing: Be aware of each inhale and exhale. Whenever you get distracted during the practice, return your attention to your breath.
- Embrace your feelings: Recognize grief and observe your thoughts. Think about the positive things that happened recently to ease tension.
Try Yoga Nidra Today
Practicing yoga nidra as you navigate grief can provide healing and renewed hope. Aside from practicing this deep relaxation technique, don’t forget to seek help if grief becomes too much to bear
